One of the greatest assets of the Friends The One with All the Poker episode is that it highlights what a poker game between friends could look like. As it’s tradition, the quirky banter and outlandish remarks are still present in а typical character fashion. Yet, they don’t overshadow the actual card-playing process, its standard traits, techniques, and more.
Even though several sub-plots are interwoven in the Friends poker episode, none of them steals the focus from the table game action. As a matter of fact, it actually manages to elevate it and raise the stakes, as the culmination is slowly approaching. It’s that good!
The One with All the Poker Friends Episode Overview
As its name suggests, The One with All the Poker episode is primarily about the main Friends cast engaging in a fierce battle of the sexes, channelled through several poker games. Excluding the non-stop quips and torrents of sarcastic jokes from Chandler’s side, one more storyline gets highlighted throughout the Friends poker chapter of the TV show.
Rachel is looking for a job and gets the opportunity of a lifetime – an interview for a position in fashion. Will she land it, and how will it affect “The One with All the Poker” as the story and poker madness and competitiveness escalate? We won’t spoil the ending for the people that haven’t seen the episode or show, but if you haven’t, do yourself a favour and fix the mistake immediately.
Otherwise, the basic plot follows the girls as they want to participate in the macho poker evenings the guys organise. As they fail to win, due to their complete lack of knowledge and ability to bluff or read the cards, Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe enlist the help of aunt Iris, who is famed as an expert poker player. The gal pals learn a thing or two and challenge the boys to a rematch and teach them a lesson.
How Is the Game in the Friends Poker Episode Depicted?
The actual poker game is rather nicely depicted in the Friends The One with All the Poker episode. You have your average group of people that deal the deck of cards, risk, raise the stakes, win, and lose. Your ear won’t be exposed to much card poker idioms and professional lingo, but it isn’t necessary for the plot, anyway.
The obvious failure of the girls to beat the boys speaks volumes to their degree of poker rules knowledge, but they manage to pick up quickly. The Friends cast is not in their financial best, too, so the stakes aren’t that high. However, thanks to their superb acting and improv skills, they manage to nicely convey the emotion of what it feels like to play poker, go all in, and pray that you hold the better hand.
For the fans who are extra obsessed with the show – much like we are – here’s an interesting tidbit of information. Much prior to filming the Friends poker episode, even before the cast even knew it existed, the actors used to get together and play real poker out of all things. They wanted to bond quicker, elevate their on-screen chemistry, and make their relationships more believable and earnest for the small screen viewers and the live audience. Isn’t that a nice coincidence? Well, the extra get-togethers paid off, not just for their acting, but for the poker games, too.
Are There More Gambling Episodes in Friends?
In Friends, The One with All the Poker episode is not the only one that has gambling drive the plot forward. In fact, several times throughout the show’s ten seasons will have betting enthusiasts laugh out loud while also relive a particular gaming atmosphere and sub-plots with the Friends cast. Check out the following paragraphs, where we will outline some of our personal favourites and point out what makes them casino and comedy gold.
The One at the Beach – Strip’em Down
Similar to “The One with All the Poker”, the same table game takes the stage again in a hilarious scene, while the Friends cast is on a weekend getaway at the beach. One noticeable difference is the type of game they settle for. The initial idea is for them to play strip poker, a game that is only for the open-minded.
However, as Joey fails to procure a deck of cards, they end up playing strip Happy Days game. Hilariously ensues as the whole gang decides to tag teams on Joey for giving the idea in the first place, and he is forced to strip it all down gradually. The conservative folks out there should better stick to the more conventional types of in-person gambling games, or perhaps consider one of the best online casino sites for 2021 as a great digital alternative.
The One in Vegas – A Brilliant Casino Two-Parter
Ahhh…Las Vegas – the Sin City, the American Casino Mecca, the place where everything is possible, and people go to earn fortunes or go back home empty-handed. While on a secret mission to surprise Joey, the Friends cast descends upon the famous Las Vegas strip at a casino, where the Italian actor is supposedly shooting a movie. Little do they know that he has been fired and is now working as a gladiator in the hotel.
Unlike the Friends poker episode, where the gang is sitting around the table at home, they are in a real casino now, and the difference in the ambience is quite noticeable. It’s one comical scene after another as Ross and Rachel get drunk and decide to visit a chappel, which leads to a very bad decision on their side. Something that we wouldn’t rank as a must-do out of all top things to do in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Phoebe, now in full realisation that “Joker” is “Poker” with a “J” – in no way a coincidence – decides to try her luck on the slot machines. A slight change of scene after her experience in The One with All the Poker Friends episode. There, she meets her match in the face of an elderly lurker that always manages to steal the jackpot from right under Phoebe’s nose.
Evidence does suggest that such people exist, and they are secretly tracking unsuspecting gamblers, patiently waiting for them to leave, only to swoop in and “steal” the prize. It isn’t listed as one of the more common scams in Vegas, but hypotheses do exist and support the claim. Ether way, The One in Vegas Part 1 & 2 is a must-see for every gambling enthusiast that is looking for a lighter and more comedic approach to the gambling scene.
The One with All the Kissing – What Could Have Happened in Atlantic City?
The addition of this episode is a bit of a creative choice because, unlike the rest, including The One with All the Poker Friends one, gambling is not an actual part of the plot. It’s only subtly implied towards the end of the episode, right before Phoebe’s water breaks and she is rushed into labour, that the whole Friends poker clan will head to Atlantic City for an extended weekend of fun and adventures.
Atlantic City is the second-best gambling destination in the US. Given the friends’ poker experience from the “One with All the Poker” and the Las Vegas craziness, our imagination is going wild with the gambling possibilities the cast could have faced in America’s Playground.
Top Online Poker Sites for True Fans of the Game
Now, if we have sparked your dormant craving for some poker action, we have several very enticing recommendations that might be of interest to you. Albeit online, the top-rated online poker sites will deliver the same thrills that a brick-and-mortar venue would, only from the comfort of your home, should you not have friends to hit a round with.
Even though The One with All the Poker Friends episode had the cast face each other, the convenience of gambling online wasn’t much of a thing back in 1995 when the episode aired. Who knows, if the show was shot in the present day, things could have gone differently.
For once, we might have seen the overly poker-competitive Professor Geller take a swing at a digital tournament with the help of one of the best online poker bonuses instead of taking on his equally competitive sister. Although, there is equal beauty in facing someone face-to-face. Now, let’s review some of the highest-rated operators that even the Friends poker cast would appreciate:
| Poker Site | Poker Bonus | Tournaments | Cash Games | Speed Poker | Site Rating | Official Website | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. 888poker | £20 No Deposit Required |
5.00 ★ out of 5 |
888poker.com | Full T&C Apply. 18+. UK new players only • £20 free bonus: • Bonus will be granted in Tournament Tickets gradually over 7 days after the claim date • Each Tournament Ticket will expire 24 hours after it was granted • Deposit bonus: • First deposit only • Min. deposit $10 • The bonus will be granted in $10 chunks subject to wagering restrictions of 100 Bonus Points per chunk • Bonus wins are capped at $500 • Valid for selected games only, when playing Casino • Wagering req. vary by game • Bonus expires in 90 days • | |||
| 2. PokerStars | Wager £10Get 50 Free Spins |
4.90 ★ out of 5 |
pokerstars.uk | Full T&Cs apply. 18+ New PokerStars Players. Minimum deposit of $10 or €10 or £10 or C$10 with code ‘STARS600′. play on any real money table on the site within 120 (one hundred and twenty) days after making the eligible deposit; and (c) collect the requisite redemption points during the relevant period. Every time you reach 75 redemption points, we’ll credit your Stars Account with $5. You have four months after each qualifying deposit to earn all the redemption points needed to release your bonus. Validity 90 days. BeGambleAware.org. Please play responsibly. | |||
| 3. PartyPoker | £400 + £40 Free Play |
4.80 ★ out of 5 |
partypoker.com | Full T&C Apply. 18+; new UK players only; min £10 deposit; £40 Free Play generated as tickets. 7-day ticket expiry. |
Gambling fans who are a tad indecisive on what they want to play might give video poker a try. It is a nice mix of slots and poker that makes up for an easy-to-play and exciting gaming product. If Phoebe was to give you a piece of advice, she would tell you to embrace the different and not to disregard something just because it sounds weird. That is if you have never played video poker before.
So, listen to your inner Mrs Buffay-Hannigan and give one of the top video poker sites a chance. You won’t recreate the magic from the Friends poker episode of “The One in Vegas”, and none of us can, although we can get pretty close with the right people. Nevertheless, the fun is guaranteed.
Friends Poker Episode Alternatives with a Strong Poker Emphasis
Friends was a massive show withlight and breezy take on the gambling topic and, more particularly, poker.
The topic is a serious one, and we are used to seeing it being depicted as nail-bitingly tense, dangerous, depressing and even life-threatening. Think about the Casino Royale poker scene for one moment. While it is absolutely amazing and intense, perfectly fitting the tone of the movie, in most cases, it is indeed the tone we are used to seeing. That is why the Friends poker episode and Las Vegas scenes are such a breath of fresh air.
Having said that, we don’t want to take away the brilliance behind some of the most incredibly crafted and well-acted poker films that can be streamed or watched on regular TV. So, even if they approach the matter in a much more serious tone, here is what we perceive as the best poker films that would also serve as superb counterprogramming to the Friends “The One with All the Poker” episode:
The Friends Poker Episode is 20 Mins of Poker Goodness
“The One with All the Poker” is a Friends episode that perfectly illustrates just how good chemistry the entire cast has. When you combine it with the poker element and the comedic timing of each actor, we end up getting great television entertainment for the 20-minute duration of the episode. And it is a timeless one, too.
The TV show has an immense re-watch factor, and its jokes, albeit a bit outdated at times, we never get tired of. It is one of the reasons why it is as famous and beloved today as it used to be when it first aired more than two decades ago. The gambling aspect in this particular episode showcases that the Friends poker relation is one we are fully on board with and would have embraced even more of.
Frequent Queries Regarding The One with All the Poker
At the end of our detailed look at “The One with All the Poker” – one of the best Friends episodes from the 1st season – we would like to bring your attention to the “FAQ” section. It contains answers to some of the most burning questions that folks have regarding the well-executed Friends poker segment.